MEDICAL MISSIONARY EDUCATIONAL WORK.
By David Paulson
THE primitive Christianity of which Paul was an exponent, attached special importance to the sacredness of the human body; but, unfortunately, the middle ages became the graveyard in which some of the best mental, moral, and physical truths were buried. It was during the reign of perverted ideas that the public bath-houses were closed, as well as the public libraries; and instead of its being considered a moral duty to care for the body, it became a virtue successfully to debase it. The man who most thoroughly acquired the art of clothing his body with filthy rags, and submitting it to the most wretched conditions, was frequently considered the greatest saint; and such conduct was actually thought to be conducive to holiness. Any one who imagines that we have entirely outgrown the baneful influence of this terrible perversion of truth, need only take an inventory of his own conception of what constitutes the religion of the body. Does he regard a violation of physical law as sin in the same sense that a violation of moral law is sin? Does he believe that it is as wicked to place impure food in his stomach as it is to put impure literature in his mind? If he does not, there is still lurking around him some remnant of the baneful traditions that were fostered during the Dark Ages, when the religion of the body, if considered at all, was looked upon as infinitely inferior to that of the soul. Paul places the body in its true dignity when he speaks of it as the temple of God, and emphasizes the importance of glorifying God in the body as well as in the soul. On account of the prevalence of these superstitions of the Dark Ages, that still tincture religious teachings, medical missionary work is, in a special sense, uphill work. The faithful physician who insists upon devoting time and attention to relieving the wants of the body, is generally considered, from a theological standpoint, to be in small business; while in reality, from the standpoint of Christ's own example, the ideal missionary is he who is prepared to minister to the wants of the body as well as those of the soul. Yet the missionary boards of nearly all denominations have assigned a more or less subordinate place to medical missionary work. Its only recognized value has been as a stepping-stone to something supposedly greater or better. Consequently it is not surprising that some medical missionaries have ceased to make advancement spiritually or even in medical science, they had so little incentive to keep pace with the onward march of medical progress. There are, however, to-day, medical missionaries who have become bright lights from the standing which they have attained as thorough-going medical men, and at the same time they take as keen an interest in the welfare of the soul as do their brother evangelists, who have not had the opportunities of a medical training. For many years medical missionaries especially have desired to see a medical school devoted to training medical men for the mission field, and at the same time they wished it to maintain a scientific standing that should be fully equal to that of the best medical schools in the land. It was to meet this growing demand that half a dozen years ago the International Medical Missionary Board organized the American Medical Missionary College. The literary requirements for entrance were placed as high as those adopted by the best medical colleges, and in addition, the applicant was required to furnish satisfactory evidence that he not only possessed a good character11in the ordinary acceptance of the term, but that he also possessed, and was cultivating, a real missionary spirit. The curriculum provided for four years of study, consisting of nine months each, and included all those branches of medical science which the best medical schools consider essential in order properly to prepare men and women to enter the medical profession. In addition to these subjects, Bible and missionary topics are taught. Special attention is given to such practical subjects as dietetics, hydrotherapy, and other rational remedies, as a thorough knowledge of their use is often absolutely essential to secure the recovery of chronic patients. Two classes have already completed their four years' course in this school, and have begun to do valiant work for the souls and bodies of men. Several students in each class completed their last year in other medical schools, and secured medical prizes or were otherwise honored for proficiency in their work. The American Medical Missionary College has been accepted into the American Colleges Association by a unanimous vote. It is thoroughly equipped with laboratory advantages, and all that is really necessary to provide a thorough-going medical training. Last year there were twice as many applicants as could be admitted into the freshman class. Those who feel impressed that Providence is leading them to take up medical missionary work should begin to correspond at once, so that their cases can be carefully looked into; and thus avoid any needless and disappointing delays. The school year opens September 26. Catalogs may be obtained by addressing the American Medical Missionary College, Battle Creek, Mich. DAVID PAULSON. Chicago Medical Missionary Training School.